Cycling Glen Lake(s)
- At August 18, 2014
- By Brian
- In Brian's posts, Cycling, Places
0
If you haven’t noticed, we get pretty excited about exploring northern Michigan on our bicycles. It’s just incredibly fun. For one of our latest rides, we hopped on the bikes at Old Settlers Park on the southeast side of Big Glen Lake. From there, if you hug the coastline of Big & Little Glen, it’s just shy of 20 miles (19.6 to be exact) around the lakes.
You start off by heading southwest along Big Glen and climbing up the steep side of Inspiration Point, which will definitely get the heart pumping. Then you’re along the coastline for the majority of the ride. There’s some great overlooks of the lakes from the tops of Inspiration Point and Dunns Farm Road so I recommend climbing off the bike a couple times and taking in the view.
Inspiration Point
The ride ends with a modest climb up Dunns Hill Climb before you roll back into Old Settlers Park. Post-ride sustenance abounds with our favorites being Art’s Tavern in Glen Arbor and Joe’s in Empire. We’re of the opinion that this ride earns you at least 10,000 calories worth of veggie burgers, fries, and beer!
D.H. Day Farm
Bike Selfie!
Peace dudes
Glen Lakes Loop
Dune Climb Concert
- At August 12, 2014
- By Brian
- In Brian's posts, Local Happenings
- 3
There’s plenty of events to attend in our area, but one of my favorites is the annual Dune Climb Concert that’s part of the Manitou Music Festival in Leelanau County. And for the 2014 edition it featured a musical group I’m a big fan of – The Moxie Strings!
We happened to be camping at DH Day the day of the concert (7/13) and so made the 2 mile-ish bike ride down the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail with our bikes laden with snacks & treats (and beer and wine).
The view of Glen Lake from the climb while taking in the amazing talents of the Moxie Strings created an incredibly extraordinary evening. The kids tuckered themselves out running up and down the dunes while the adults relaxed and enjoyed some beverages.
Quick tips for a successful evening:
– Park in Glen Arbor and bike to the Dune Climb along the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail. The trail is sweet and you can avoid dealing with the congested parking in the lot at the base of the dunes.
– Music is best taken in at the dunes with food. Pack some snacks. Or if you’re like the people sitting near us, bring a charcoal grill and fire up a BBQ right on the Dune Climb!
– Do NOT forget adult beverages. Since thousands of people climb the dunes each year, please don’t bring glass. We recommend keeping it classy and bringing your wine in a plastic bag (see pic below).
Bonus: we went through enough of our supplies there was room for plenty of firewood on the way back to the campground.
World Cup Fever
- At June 23, 2014
- By Brian
- In Brian's posts, Places
- 0
It was tough growing up a die-hard soccer fan in Northern Michigan, especially when the World Cup comes around every 4 years and there isn’t anywhere to watch it other than my couch or a sketchy website. So for the 2014 edition I was super stoked to find out that the Little Fleet was not only showing every game, but with sound (some bars will put the games on, but usually on mute). Queue me emailing everybody I knew to come down and watch the USA games with me. After all 2 of them showed up there was still plenty of room for others.
The Little Fleet has a great atmosphere and I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout for the US games. This short video shows the crowd’s reaction to both US goals Sunday against Portugal.
The Little Fleet has a wonderful drink selection, including $4 caipirinhas during World Cup games, and 7 food trucks out in the parking lot (Curbie isn’t open yet) for your dining-while-standing-up pleasure. Although it’s worth mentioning that for both US games so far, most of the trucks weren’t open. They operate independently of the LF, but I have to admit I find it odd they’d be closed when there are hundreds of intoxicated soccer fans wandering around a few feet away from their storefront.
Anyway, fingers crossed they’ll be open for lunch Thursday at noon when the US team takes on Germany, in a match that determines which 2 teams will advance from group G to the round of sixteen! Go USA!
Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail Update
- At June 12, 2014
- By Brian
- In Brian's posts, Cycling, Places
- 3
If you haven’t checked out the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail there’s even more reason to head out and enjoy a walk or bike ride (or ski in the winter). The trail now runs all the way from Glen Arbor to Empire, with an addition of approximately 5 miles opening last weekend (this new section starts at about mile 4.5 on the route map below). Until this newest section opened, the trail coursed 4.5 miles through the woods & dunes from Glen Arbor to the Dune Climb. The length of the entire trail now is a shade over 9.5 miles (editor’s note: the trail does stop about a mile or so before Empire, but it ends at Lacore Road which runs right into town).
The newly opened trail to Empire feels hillier than the original section (& appears that way based on the elevation profile below), but there were plenty of casual riders out on their cruiser bikes chugging up the hills. Maybe my legs were constricted by all the spandex I was sporting. Next time out I’m going with tube socks and cargo shorts. The trail also crosses North Bar Road so you can bike to North Bar Lake without having to deal with the tiny parking lot full of tourist type folks.
Additionally, BATA is again offering their Bike and Ride program this summer. For the normal fare of $3 you can pack your bike on the bus and take it up to Empire and Glen Arbor, ride the trail one way (or both), and then hop back on the bus afterwards (stay tuned to this blog for more info on that program soon).
I can’t say enough about how beautiful it is along the trail. It changes between the backwoods of the National Lakeshore; grassy, flower-covered hills; and sandy, rolling dunes. And to be able to get a solid cycle in (19 miles for an out and back) without putting your wheels on a road is pretty sweet. For our ride last weekend we started in Glen Arbor and rode the entire length to Empire before turning back. On the return we hopped off the trail at the Dune Climb (at mile 15 on the route map above) and hugged Little and Big Glen Lakes before cruising into Glen Arbor. Post ride chow at Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire and then a bonfire at Empire Beach made for a pretty great northern Michigan day.
Empire Beach Sunset by Bonfire
Cycling OMP
- At June 03, 2014
- By Brian
- In Brian's posts, Cycling, Places
- 0
Unfortunately it took me a couple decades to learn that I live in an area that has amazing cycling routes to explore. I spent my youth running around and banging heads with other helmeted individuals instead of enjoying the blissful feel of the wind on my face as I cruised along on my bike with my drive-train humming beneath me. It wasn’t until I’d accumulated a number of injuries & could barely walk until I looked to the bicycle, the world’s greatest invention, as an activity. And now I’m obsessed. Granted, I spend more of my time on the wooded trails, but it’s tough to beat a nice ride along one of our beautiful lakeside roads.
There’s always going to be a debate as to which peninsula is the better ride, Old Mission or Leelanau, not to mention the roads around Torch Lake in Antrim County and countless other routes. All of these areas are worth your time to head out and explore. Bluff Road in particular on the east side of Old Mission Peninsula has some amazing views of East Bay that are tough to beat. Rides on OMP are as easy or difficult as you want to make them. An out and back cruise along either bay is relatively flat or criss-cross back and forth between bays to add some challenging elevation changes. If you’re up for a longer ride, the roads towards the north end of OMP are more remote and offer some great scenery.
After a long winter the weather has finally turned the corner so I definitely recommend taking advantage of it with a cruise out OMP. It’ll be 20 degrees and snowing before you know it!
Roll out along East Bay to Bluff Rd, cross on Gray, then back on Peninsula Dr.
East Bay along Bluff Road
